Switch



United States PatentO SWITCH Paul N. Becka, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to Tru-Fit Screw Products Corporation Application August 25, 1958, Serial No. 757,058

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-87) The invention relates in general to switches and more particularly to high voltage switches which are adapted .for switching on the high voltage side of a transformer.

An object of the invention is to provide a switch having a contactor which is movable into engagement with a leaf spring type of contact.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a switch having a contactor which is arcuately movable into engagement with a leaf spring type of contact having a fsubstantially arcuate configuration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch having a movable and fixed contact arrangement which can be readily adjusted within limits if misaligned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch ,driven by a solenoid with a linkage between the solenoid core and a movable contactor for moving the contactor in an arcuate path.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a switch whereby electrical contact is made by sliding engagement of the contacts in a generally arcuate direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch whereby the construction may be easily varied to get a greater or lesser distance between first and second fixed contacts. This is desirable in high voltage switches where arcs are sometimes obtained between the contacts where high voltages are involved.

. 'Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description .and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

' Figure 1 is an elevational view of the switch of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a view of the switch taken generally along the line 22 of Figure l.

" The switch of the present invention is particularly "adapted for use in switching high voltages such as those encountered, for example, in my copending United States patent application Serial No. 653,705, filed April 18, 1957. The switch of the present invention is shown in Figures l and 2 and is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The switch includes in combination a plastic mounting bracket 11 having three integral mounting lugs 12 extending therefrom and adapted to receive screws through openings 13 for securing the bracket to a desired structure. Secured to the mounting 'bracket is a solenoid 16 which includes the usual frame 17, iron laminations 18, windings 19 and a movable -core 20. The solenoid is secured to the mounting and exerts a force. tending to movethe core downwardly.

Patented Jan. 12, 1960 A pivot support 34 is integrally formed with the mounting bracket 11 and extends frontwardly from the bracket in a direction generally opposite to the mounting lugs 12. The pivot support 34 receives a pivot member 35 through an opening therein and the pivot member is maintained in a generally fixed position. A generally L-shaped contactor 37 (Figure 2) is mounted on the pivot member for arcuate movement thereabout. The end portion of the contactor 37 which is mounted on pivot member 35 includes a yoke portion 40 and a sleeve portion 41 which surrounds and turns on that portion of the pivot member just outwardly of where the pivot support 34 terminates. A nut 42 provides end bearing for the sleeve portion 41. The other end portion of the contactor 37 extends in a direction generally ninety degrees removed from the pivotally connected end portion and provides electrical connection between different electrical circuits upon movement thereof. This end portion is made up of a double membered construction with the members being spot welded together, as at 45. An arm 48 is integrally formed with the movable contactor 37 and extends laterally outwardly from the point ofpivotal connection of the movable contactor 37.

Connection means are provided for connecting the movable contactor 37 to the movable solenoid core 20 so that the generally straight line movement of the core is transmitted to arcuately move the contactor 37.- The connection' means includes a plastic insulating member 50 which has upper and lower end portions. The upper and lower end portions are provided with slots 52 and 53, respectively. The slot 52 receives the second extension 28 which extends from the solenoid and is maintained in the slot and secured to the insulating member 50 by means of a pin 55. An arcuately shaped connecting link 56 is provided which has first and second end portions 57 and 58, respectively. The first end portion 57 of the link resides in the slot 53 of the insullating member 50 and is pivotally secured therein by means of a pin 60. The second end portion 58 of the link 56 is pivotally secured to the arm 48 by means of another pin 61.

First and second contact assemblies 63 and 64, respectively, are provided and are secured to the mounting bracket 11 by means of bolts 65 and nuts 66. Each of the contact assemblies 63 and 64, respectively, comprise an electrically conductive mounting portion 68 which includes a transversely extending finger 69 which bears against the mounting bracket 11. The contact assemblies also include a contact portion 70 which is secured to the mounting portion 68 by rivets 71 and has a portion 76 which is arcuate in configuration and which lies in the path of travel of the L-shaped contactor 37.

In operation, the device in the normally de-energized condition assumes the position shown in the full-line drawing of the Figures 1 and 2. Upon energization of the solenoid windings 19 through leads 72 and 73, the movable core 20 moves in an upward direction. This causes the spring 32 to be compressed and also causes the second extension 28 and the insulating connection member 50 to travel in an upward direction. This causes the link 56 to move the arm 48 which in turn causes the generally L-shaped contactor 37 to move from the position shown in the full-line drawing to the dot- -dash line position 74. The bolts 65, as well as securing the first and second contact assemblies in position, also act as terminals for providing electrical connection to different electrical circuits. The end portion 75 of the pivotmember 35 also acts as a terminal for providing electrical connection to the movable contactor 37. As a result, in the full-line drawing position of Figure 1, the contactor 37 makes electrical connection between the terminal 75 and the terminal 65 of the second contact assembly 64 and to the associated electrical circuit which is not shown. In the dot-dash position 74 elec-- trical connection is tmade.,betwee n the terminal -75 and the terminal .64 of the first'contact assembly .63 .andits assqc a ed electrical c i whi h al o a lno n shown. In this manner, electrical connection is jalternately ma a b en be the a ev 'f red't electrical circuits.

It will thus be seen that a switch construc'tion'has been provided whereinthe movable contactor travels in an arcuate direction into a leaf spring type of fixed con- ;tact which also has a generally arcuate configuration.

'The fixed contact which engages with the movablecontactor as mentionis madeof a leaf spring-like material which can be bent by hand to assume various positions vwitl rin limits and which maintains this position and also its resilient spring-like quality. The contacts of the herein disclosedswitch can thereby be bent to compensate for wear if such is the case or may be easily bent to make good contact with the movable contactorin the event the same is misaligned for some reason. The arcuate movement is imparted to the movable contactor through a linkage which has been described hereinabove. The construction and arrangement of the movable contactor and fixed contactor is such that a sliding engagement is made therebetween which provides good electrical connection. The construction of the switch issuch that a greater or lesser distance may be obtained between the fixed contacts in the event that such is desirable, for example, a greater or lesser voltage'being utilized or if itjis desired to make contact sooner or later. The contact portion 70 of either of the .contact assemblies may be changed with little difiiculty or "the entire contact assemblies can be replaced quickly and at little expense.

Alhongh this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A high voltage switch including in combination a bracket, integral mounting lugs extending from said bracket and adapted to receive screws for mounting said bracket, a solenoid including a core having first and second extensions secured to first and second end portions thereof and movable therewith, a spring acting between said first extension and said solenoid forma intaining said core in its lowermost position in the de-energized condition of the solenoid, a pivot support integral with said bracket, a pivot member fixedly supported by said pivot support, a generally L-shaped contactor-mounted on said pivot member for pivotal movement thereabout, an arm integrally connected to said contactor and extending from said pivotal connection, connection means connecting said solenoid core to said L-shapedcontactor for moving same about said pivotal connection including an insulating member having first and second end portions, each said end portion having a slot therein, said slot in said first endportion of said insulating member receiving said second extension, a first pin securing said second extension in saidslot, an arcuately shaped connecting link having first and second end portions, said-slotin said second end portion of said insulating member receiving said first end'portion of said link, asecond pin pivotally securing said first end portion of said link in said slot, a third pin pivotally connecting said second end portion of said link to said arm, first and second :arcuately spaced .spring contacts located in the path of' movement o :the end portion of said Lshaped contactor each ,of ,said contacts including a portion secured :said bracket and a finger engaging said bracket, each said spring contact including a contact portion which is arcuate in configuration and lies in the arcuate path of travel of said end portion of said L-shaped contactor.

I 2. A switch including in combination a bracket, a solenoid including a core having first and second extensions secured to first andsecond end portions thereof and movable therewith, a spring acting between said first extension and said solenoid for maintaining said core in a first position ;in the deenergized condition of the solenoid, a pivot member supported by said bracket, a generally L-shaped contactor mounted by saidpivot member for pivotal movement, an arm connected to said contactor, an insulating member having first and second end portions, means securing said second extension to said first end portion of said insulating member, a connecting'link having firstand second end-portions, means pivotally securing said =first end portion of said link to saidsecond end portion of said insulating memben means pivotally connecting said second end portion of said link to'said arm, firstand'second spaced spring contacts located in the path of movement of the end portion of said L-shaped contactor, each of said contacts including a portion secured to said bracket, each said spring con- *tact including a contactaportion which is generally arcuate in configuration and lies in the path of'travel'o'f saiden'd portion of saidL-shaped'contactor.

:3. A switchincluding in combination a-bracket,1a-:solenoid including a core, a spring for mainta'iningsaid core in a first position in the deenergized condition .o'f-the solenoid, -a pivot member supported by said bracket, L8 contactor mounted by said pivot member for pivotal movement, an arm carried by said contactor, connection meansconnecting said solenoid core to said contactor-for moving :same incluuding an insulating member having first andsecond end portions, means securing said coreto .said firstend portion of said insulating-member, a.con nectinglinkihaving first-andsecond end portions, means pivotallysecuring said first end portionof said link to said second end portion of said insulating member, means rpivotally connecting said second end portion of saidlink to said arm, first and second arcuately shaped spring contacts ilocated .in the path of movement of the end .portiono'f said contactor, each of said contacts including atportionsecured tosaid bracket, each said spring contact including a contact portion which is generally arcuate tinconfigurationand lies in the path of travel of said end portion of said contactor.

4. A switch including in .combination a bracket, asolenoid including a core mounted on said bracket, spring means'for maintaining said core in a first position .in the =deenergized ,condition of the solenoid, electrically conductive pivot means supported by said bracket, first means ';for making electrical connection to said pivot :means,-1an electrically conductive contactor having an end portion and -;mounted by said pivot means for pivotal ,mOvegnent thereabout, first and second arcuately extending spr ns Qnta ts lo at in e path ofm vement :of the [end portion .of said contactor and engaging'the same in :first and Second positions respectively, second and rneans for making electrical connection tosaid first'and second spring contacts respectively, linkage means between said core and saidcontactor for moving thesame ;about said pivot means,said contactor in said first posi- ;tion establishinga first electrical circuit between saidfirst and secondmeans and in saidsecond position establishing asecond electrical circuit between said first and third means.

References Cited-in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS $820,877 Kanmacher May "15,1906 1.641320 ,Haddock. Nov. ,1, 11927 2,295,303 Ralley Sept. :8, 1942 

